Police Shot Poly Student Over Alleged N100 Bribe In A’Ibom

Outrage has continued to trail the gruesome murder of one Imo Sampson Ekanem, a final year Mass Communication student of Uyo City Polytechnic (UCP), Nduetong Oku, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

It was learnt the late Ekanem, was shot dead by a Policeman at his hometown, Nkek, in Ukanafun Local Government Area at the weekend, while running an errand, using his mother’s lady’s motorcycle.

“He was shot dead after a heated argument with one of the Policemen attached to the special squad sent by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Zubairu Muazu, to fight recurrent cult activities in our Local Government.

“Because the activities of the cultists are always carried out with the use of motorcycles, the Police have been conducting stop-and-search operations. So, they just stopped him and subjected him to a search and nothing was found on him, but we were surprised that the Police demanded for N100 bribe.

“His refusal to part with the money infuriated the Police, who cocked his gun and shot him at close range”, Usung Simeon, an eye witness told newsmen.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Chukwu Ikechukwu, DSP, said “the CP has ordered immediate investigation of the matter”.

Although he said he was yet to get full details from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in-charge of Ukanafun, Ikechukwu, denied that the victim was killed over his refusal to part with N100, adding that “what I first heard was that he (the deceased) was trying to collect riffle from the Police and the officer shot him in self defense”.

According to the PPRO, the Policeman has been arrested and detained at the Ikot Ekpene Area Command and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Ikot Akpanabia Command headquarters, Uyo.

He promised that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring the culprit was made to pass through the due process of law and due punishment meted on him at the conclusion of investigation and prosecution.